Means for automatically draining pumps.



H. C. FUHRMAN. MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY DRMNING PUMPS.

APPLIOATIONTILED MAY 16, 1911.

Patented Sept. 19, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET'L @777mm f H. C. FUHRMAN. MEANS FOR AUTOMATIGALLY DRAINING PUMPS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 16, 1911.

1,003,592. Patented Sept. 19,1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2'.

UNITED sTaTEs PATENT oEEIoE.

HERMAN C. FUHRMAN, OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO THE TOKHEIM MFG. CO., OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA, A CORPORATION 0F IOWA.

'MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY DBAINING PUMPS.

Lacasse.

Speccation'of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 19, 1911.

To ail whom 'it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HERMAN C. FUHRMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cedar Rapids, in the county of Linn and State of Iowa, have invented new and useful Improvements in Means for Automatically Draining Pumps, ot which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification. y

My invention relates to means' for automatically draining pumps and pertains espe cially to piston pumpsof the kind described.

for instance, in Patent No. 907,653, granted.

December 22nd, 1903, to the Tokheim Manufacturing Company, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In pumps of this type, the cylinder `is arranged vertically, and the construction is such that the valvesl of the pump will be automatically opened when Ithe piston is in its lowermost position. When the valves are thus opened, the liquid i'n'the pump cyl inder, in the inlet pipe, "or pipes, of the pump, and in the various supply pipes running to different parts of the building, can. drain back into the liquid reservoir,-'-leaving the pump, the inlet, and in fact the entire supply system pipes empty except for a. small quantity of liquid left 1n the pump for priming purposes. When the punip is used for pum ing gasolene, this drain-back feature is o great import-ance.. since it insures that no substantial amount of the explosive liquid shall remain in the pump, or in the supply system of pipes,- thus minimizing the danger of lire or explosion. In pumps of thisv character as hitherto constructed,it has been necessary to raise the handle ofthe pump as soon as the pumping operation has been completed, so as -to move the piston into its lowermost position (in which the valves are opened), so that all the liquid will be drained back into the reservoir. It-has been lfound that the operator will sometimes forget to raise the handle, the effect being that the liquid is not drained back, or, at any rate, not entirely drained back-a condition which it is particularly desirable to avoid. p v

It is the principal object ofthe Ipresent vinvention to remedy this drawback by rendering the .return of the piston to its lowermost position automatic, and notv dependent upon the whim of the operator.

.inlet pi e 11` enters.

It is a further object of the invention to effect the above object in a convenient and simple manner.

I have described an embodiment of my invention in the following speciication, and shown it in the accompanying drawings. It is to be'understood, however, that changes may be made in 'the construction shown, without exceeding the scope of my invention, 'as delined in the appended claims; similarly, the invention may be embodied in other constructions.

`Inthe drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pump constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a side view of the piston-operating arm and the handle for actuating the same, showing the -sides -of these parts opposite to those seen -in Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the piston-operating arm and the actuating handle therefor; Fig. 4 is an enlarged'detail sectional view,the section being taken on the line 4-4 'of Fig. 2` looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of the pump cylinder,.showing the inter-engaging valves; and Fig. 6 is a sectional plan of the cylinder, the section being taken on the line c-c of Fig. 5. l i

Referring to Figs. 1, 5 and of the drawings, 10 indicates the pump cylinder, having an inlet pipe l1 and an outlet pipe l2. The

`outlet pipe 12 is connected with a casing 13,

which supports the delivery pipes, etc., 'of the pump. The piston of the pump yis designated 14;t-it has secured thereto the piston stem 14a, which passes vertically upward through the outlet pipe 12, and out through a stuiing box in the casing 13. The cylinder 10 is divided into two parts by a partition 15, the part below the partition constituting a priming chamber 10, into which the The partition 15 `is provide with a trip valve 15l having an actuatin arm 15", the valve being guided in a 4suitab e cage 15C. The piston 14 is provided with a puppet valve 1/1` having a downwardly extending foot 14;, the valvel being guided in a suitable cage 14d carried by the piston.' VVh'en the piston is moved into its lowermost position, it willffengage the arm 15b and lift the trip valve 15a; 'and the trip valve will engage the foot 14 of the puppet valve 14 and lift the latter. When, therefore, the piston is in its lowermost position, the valves 14h and 15u are opened, and the liquid in the pump and the pipes is thereby enabled `to drain back into the liquid reservoir,with the exception of,

a small quantity 5 ing chamber 10a.

above, is substantially the same as that described in Patent No. 907,653 referred to above; and no claim is made to these parts in themselves: there is not any necessity, therefore, to enter into a. more detailed description of them than has been given.

of liquid left in the prim- In attaining the object of my invention,

I provide means for insuring that the piston shall return to its lowermost position as soon as the operator has ceased using the pump; by this meansl the draining back of the liquid in the pump is automatically taken care of. In the construction illustrated, I effect this-by providing the pisarm which is capable of being connected with the pump handle, but which is auto" Imitically disconected therefrom as soon as the operator ceases using the pump. When 25 the actuating arm is disconnected from the handle, the piston descends by its own weight, and the pump valves are thus opened. The handle hangs vertically be-- side the used. s

Mounted upon the casing 13, is a standard 16 having the upper end thereof forked to receive a pin 17.' The piston actuating pump when the latter is not being arm 18 is' rockably mounted, bet-Ween its ends, upon the pin 17 and is pivoted to the upper end ofthe piston .stem 14a. When the pumpv is not being used, the arm 18 takes the position shown in Fig. 1, and in dotted lines in Fig. 2,-in which the piston is yin its lowermost position. The pump handle 19 is also rockably mounted -upon the pin 17, close beside the arm -18 but inde endently thereof, and `hangs vertically .ownward as shown in Fig. 1. When itis desired to operate the pump, the handle 19 is connected with the arm 18; so that both of these members may be rocked together about the 'pin 17, the pumpl being thereby operated. The connection between the handle 19 and the arm 18 is effected by means of a transverse latch pin 20, which is mounted in a hole in the handle 19 located oppo- ,site the adjacent end of the arm 18. The

. latch pin 20 is movable into and out of a corresponding hole 21 `in the arm 18, this movement being effected by a latch lever 22 pivoted to the handle, the end 23 of which enters a hole in the pin 20. The latch lever 22 is normally held back, i'n the position in which the latch pin 20 is out of engagement with the hole 21 of the arm 18, by'a ret-ractile spring 24 connected at one end to'the latch lever and at lthe other end to the handle 19. The latch lever may be moved forward, however, to cause the pin 20 to Thepump, as outlined ton stem of the pump with an actuating enter, and engage in, the hole 21, this being eifectedby a grlp lever 25 which is pivoted to the handle 19 adjacent the end thereof. The rip lever 25 is connected, by a link 26, with the latch lever; so that, upon the handle being firmly grasped. and the grip lever thereby moved toward the handle, a pull will be exerted on the link 26, and the latch lever will therefore be moved against the action of the spring 24 to cause the latch 75 pin` 20 to enter the hole 21 of the actuating arm 18. The connection between the handle 19 and the actuating arm is thus made. When the grip lever 25 is released, the spring 24 causes the latch lever 22 to resume its normal position, the latch pin 2O being thereby moved out ofthe hole 21, and the handle 19 being disconnected from the actuating arm 18. In order to facilitate the connection of the handle with the actuating arm, the.latter is provided with a stop pin 27, which extends transversely therefrom ,into the path of the end of the handle. The handle 19 is formed with a notch 28 for receiving this pim-the notch and the stop pin being disposed so that when the stop pin engages in the notch the latch pin 2O will be in position opposite the hole 21 of the actuating arm. The' stop pin` 27 is formed with an enlarged head 29, which 95 engages over the farther side of the handle 19 and thus prevents lateral movement between the handle and the actuating arm.

The actuating arm'18 and the handle 19 normally rest in the positions shown in Fig. 1, the piston being then in its lowermost position, in which the valves of the pulnp are open. When it is desiredy to operate the pu1np,the handle is swung upward about the pin 17 until it engages, with the notch 28, against the pin 27 of the actuating arm,- whereupon the handle can not be moved farther in an upwarddirection. When the handle has been moved into this position, a grip is exerted upon the grip lever 25, with the' result that t-he latch pin 20, actuated by the latch lever 22, is made to enter the hole 21 of the actuating arm 18, the handle being thus connected with the actuating arm. The handle 19 may now -be rocked up and down to operate the pump, a continuous pressure being exerted upon the grip lever 25 in order to maintain the connection between the handle and the actuating lever. When a suiicient quantity of liquid has been pumped, t-he grip lever 25 is released, and the handle allowed to hang in a vertical position. If the piston does not happen to be in its lowermost position at the time when the connection between the handle and the actuating arm 18 is broken by the releasing of the grip lever 25, the piston will descend by its own weight, carrying with it the end of the actuating arm. The parts willthen remain in the positions lshown in Fig, 1, the pump valves being open and 13(` the liquid in the pump and in the supply pipes being therefore enabled to drain back to the liquid reservoir.k

It has been found that under certain cir* cumstances the weight of the oil above the piston 14 is not sufficient to cause the piston to descend with sufficient force to cai'se the valves -14b and 15a to be opened. I therefore provide in the valve 15,a a small opening 15d, which while not injuriously affecting the pumping action, will permit the oil remaining between the piston 14 and partit-ion 15, when the pumping is stopped, to drain back into the priming chamber This creates a vacuum between the piston 14 and partition 15 which forcibly draws the piston down, opening the valves 14b and 15". In some cases, especially when the pump is placed at a level which is only slightly above the level of the liquid reservoir, it may be necessary to provide the piston 14 with one or more follower weights, or to increase the weight of thepiston itself, so as to make certain'that the piston 'will descend. f

The faucet key of the pump may be provided with a small air opening to permit air to enter the cylinder duringl the downward movement of the piston. If desired, an air inlet valve, suitably placed, may be used in I stead of the opening in the faucet key.

It will be seen that this construction renders the return of the pump piston to its lowermost position entirely outside of the control of the operator of the pump. The piston necessarily returns to this position as soon as the pump handle is released. The result of this is that the draining back of the liquid contained in the pump and the supply pipes is definitely insured. The construction is simple and may be economically produced; moreover, the pump is equally easy to operate as though an ordinary handle connected directly with the piston stem, were employed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. The combination with a pump piston arranged to return, after being operated, to a predetermined position, of means for operating said piston, said operating means com- 'prising an actuating member dire'ctly connected with said piston, a handle adapted to be detachably connected with said actuating member so as to communicate its movements to the same, manually operable means for making and maintaining connection between said handle and said actuating Imeniber, and means for maintaining said handle and said actuating member out of connection wi-tli` each other except when said handle is being operated, for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination with a pump pistoniy arranged to return, after being operated, toy a predetermined position, of means for oper.

ating said piston, said operating means comnected with said piston,` a handle adapted to be connected with said actuating member so as to communicate its movements to the same, manually operable means for connecting said handle with said actuating member, and automatic means for releasing said locking means, for the purposes set fbrth.

3. The combination with a pump piston arranged to return, after being operated, to a predetermined position, of means for operating said piston, said operating means cornprising an actuating member directly connected with said piston, a handle adapt-ed to be connected with said actuating member so as to communicate its movements to the same, .manually opeia. le means for connecting said handle with said actuating memberand a spring 'for releasing said locking means, for the purposes set forth.

arranged to return, after being operated, to a predetermined position of mea-ns for opa pivoted member directly connected with said piston, a handle pivoted coaxially with said member and located adjacent said member, manually operable means for connect? ing said handle with said member, and means for automatically disconnecting said handle from said member, for the purposes set forth.

5. r1`he combination with a vertically dsposed piston pump, of means for operating the Vpiston of said pump, said operating means comprising a pivoted member directly connected with the piston of said pump, a handle pivoted coaxially withsaid member and located adjacent thereto, a manually operable latch'carried by said handle and adapted to connect said handle with said member, and automatic means for releasing said latch, for the purposes set forth.

6. The combination with a vertically disposed piston pump, having a handle-supporting standard; of an arm pivoted to said standard; a handle pivoted to said standard coaxially with said arm; a spring-released latch carried by said handle, said latch being adapted, when operated, to effect a connection between said handle and said arm; and actuated means for operating said latch and interengaging means between said handle and said arm, for enabling said handle to be correctly positioned with respect to said arm to allow said latch to connect said handle with said arm, for the purposes set forth.

7. The combination with a pump including a vertically arranged cylinder having an inlet valve therein, and a piston having an outlet valve therein, said valves' being dis.- posed so as to interengage and be open when the piston is in its lowermost position, and said piston being adapted to fall by gravity to cause the interengagement and opening of l 4. The combinationwith a pump piston p erating said piston, and means comprising' prising an actuating member directly conthe valves, of means for operating the piston of the pump,said operating means comprising an actuating member directly connected with the piston rod, a handle adapted to be detachably connected With said actuating member so as to communicate its movement thereto, and means lfor detachably connecting said handle with said actuating member.

8. The combination With a pump including a vertically arranged cylinder having an inlet valve therein and having a by-pass arranged around said valve, and .a piston having an outlet valve therein,said valves being disposed so as to be open When the piston is in its lowermost position, said piston being adapted to fall by gravity to cause the opening of said valves, of means for operating the piston of the pump, said operating means comprising an actuating member directly connected With the piston rod, a handle adapted lto be detachably connected With said actuating member, and means for detachably connecting said handle .with said actuating member.

9. Inv a pump, the combination With a vertically arranged cylinder, of a piston operating therein, an operating handle for said piston, Vmeans for automatically disconnecting said piston from said handle when the operator ceases pumping, an outlet valve in said piston, an inlet valve arranged in said cylinder, said inlet and outlet valves being arranged to be openedby the descent of said piston, and means Wherebya vacuum will be created beneath said piston when the operator' ceases pumping to cause said piston to forcibly descen 10. In a pump, the combination with a vertically arranged cylinder, of a piston operating therein, an operating handle for said piston, means for automatically disconnecting said piston from said handle when the operator ceases pumping, an outlet valve in said piston, an inlet valve in said cylinder, said inlet and outlet valves being arranged to be opened by the descent of said piston,

and means for draining the uid left beneath said piston in saidcylinder when the operator ceases pumping, whereby a vacuum will be created beneath said piston and cause the piston to forcibly descend.

11.' In a pump, the combination with a vertically arranged cylinder, of a piston operating therein, an operating handle for said piston, means for automatically disconnecting said piston from said handle when the operator ceases pumping, an outlet valve in said piston, an inlet valve in said cylinder, said outlet and inlet valves being arranged to be opened by the descent of said piston, and a by-pass 1n said inlet valve to permit the fluid remaining in said cylinder beneath said piston to drain therefrom and thereby create a vacuum beneath the iston to cause the piston to forcibly descendi ll2. In a pump,vthe combination with a vertically arranged cylinder having a priming chamber arranged beneath the same, of a piston operating in said cylinder, an operating handle for said piston, means for automatically disconnecting said piston from said handle- When the operator ceases pumping, an outlet valve in said piston, an inlet valve 'arranged between said cylinderA and priming chamber, said outlet and inlet valves being arranged to be opened by the descent of said piston, a by-pass in said inlet valve leading from said priming chamber to said -cylinder to permit the fluid remaining in HERMAN o. FUHRMAN.

Witnesses:

Trios. B. POWELL, WILLIAM H. DU'r'roN. 

